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How fortunate I am to be the executive director of the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
on this historic occasion! Imagine, for 75 years our JCC has been an essential community resource for
Jewish learning, socialization, acculturation of new immigrants, cultural programming, enhancing
Jewish identity, promoting volunteerism, providing social services and bringing families together.
How did we do this for 75 years? In Hebrew, yachad-together. We did it by forming partnerships-with our
lay people, with community organizations, with congregations and with inspired, creative, dedicated peo-
ple who share our vision for creating a truly Jewish center of activity, right in the heart of the neighbor-
hood. There are partnerships on many levels at the JCC: between the executive director and the presi-
dent, between staff and committee chairs, between the JCC and congregations representing a wide range
of Jewish observance and between the volunteers and employees. Each individual brings a special skill
and expertise, and his/her shared ideas stimulate the others to do good things for our members and our
community.
We are particularly grateful for our lay/professional partnership. Our lay people have stepped up to the plate to ensure that our programs
continue and our JCC doesn't falter. They have propelled our Annual Jewish Book Fair to national prominence, making it the largest in
the country, attracting leading Jewish authors and book publishers who showcase top-rated Jewish books. Our SAJE program and the
Florence Melton Adult Mini School would not have garnered their ever-growing enrollment without the devoted leadership of their chairs.
Thanks to the hard work of volunteers who spent countless hours on promotion and organizing, the annual JCC Lenore Marwil Jewish Film
Festival has attained its highest audience to date-8, 000 moviegoers! And thanks to the more than 200 volunteers who helped out at the West
Bloomfield Community Fame Games, for which we were the host organization and a major partner, hundreds of children and adults with
special needs will have fond memories of being recognized for their athletic achievements. Pardon us for kvelling!
Our lay/staff partnerships also have afforded us opportunities to learn Jewishly, in educational spheres, trainings, board meetings and ori-
entations. Together we have learned about Jewish ethics and ethical dilemmas in Jewish life and how by working together, we can make
a better Jewish JCC and ultimately, a better Jewish community.
Another element that contributes to the success of our JCC is the tradition of professional leadership. Throughout the decades, members
of our professional staff have brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to our JCC to allow us to continue to provide meaningful pro-
grams and services in a dignified and organized manner.
How did we make it to this day? We reached this celebration because our antecedents have left us with a legacy of commitment-to Judaism,
to our community and to our JCC.
I am deeply indebted to our previous executive directors who have put the Detroit JCC on the national map with their innovations and
vision. Irwin Shaw created our Annual Jewish Book Fair and was-and still is-a leading proponent of Jewish literature and Jewish and
Hebrew language education. My predecessor Dr. Morton Plotnick, has gained a national reputation for his involvement in the creation
and growth of the now international JCC Maccabi Games. Leah Anne Kleinfeldt lent her tremendous talents to bridge the transition
between the end of one executive director's tenure and the beginning of a new one. I am also lucky to have had the opportunity to work with
three presidents: Harry Eisenberg, Larry Wolfe and Sharon Hart. Their involvement is of inestimable value not only to me, but also to the
JCC as a whole.
To our board, our members, our staff and the community, Yasher Koach! May we continue to enjoy the success of our efforts as we embark
on our next quarter century.
David H. Sorkin
Executive Director